Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey is joining Catholic Charities agencies across the United States to host People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a nationwide storytelling exhibit that amplifies the profound impact of Christian service.
Catholic Charities of Paterson will host the People of Hope Museum at St. Paul Inside the Walls Center for Evangelization in Madison, N.J., on March 29, Palm Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Monday, March 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The exhibit will be free and open to the public.
The People of Hope Museum exists to showcase how compassion, service, and hope are lived out through the stories and experiences of those Catholic Charities serve. The exhibits are designed to inspire visitors to embody these Christian values in their own lives.
Housed in a retrofitted tractor-trailer, the People of Hope Museum is an immersive experience that brings to life more than 40 professionally produced video stories from Catholic Charities staff and volunteers from across the country about clients who deeply impacted them.
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The exhibit features interactive poverty simulation activities to help visitors understand the challenges faced by families in poverty. It also displays U.S. and state-level poverty data for local and national insights.
The museum also includes audio recordings of book excerpts about poverty, social isolation, and bridgebuilding. There also is a recording booth where visitors can share their own stories of hope, service, and compassion.
Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities of Paterson, said, “The People of Hope Exhibit reminds us that every statistic represents a person with a story, a struggle, and sacred dignity.”
“We’re honored to bring this powerful nationwide initiative to St. Paul Inside the Walls and invite our community to encounter the faces and voices of hope that inspire our mission every day,” Milliken said. “For more than 80 years, Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson has supported individuals and families in Passaic, Morris, and Sussex counties and beyond, offering guidance, resources, and compassionate care during difficult times.”
The People of Hope Museum is an initiative of Catholic Charities USA, the national membership organization for 168 independent Catholic charities. Collectively, last year, the Catholic Charities network of agencies served more than 16 million people regardless of faith, addressing needs ranging from food insecurity and housing to disaster assistance, health care, and family support.
While each local agency’s services vary, Catholic Charities are united by their shared commitment to uphold the dignity of every person and answer the Gospel call to serve those most in need.
The People of Hope Museum launched its tour of the United States this month and will travel the U.S. for two-and-a-half years. The initiative is made possible by a 2024 grant of nearly $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded through an invitational round of its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life.
To learn more about the People of Hope Museum, visit ccpaterson.org/POH.
